Beryl stayed close beside him, but her focus seemed to be all around, as if a band of bloodthirsty attackers were about to descend upon them. “Why are you worried about me?”
She stopped perusing the area to look at him. “I think that guy was about to grab you.”
“Really? Why do you think that?” Jake was starting to believe the same thing, but wondered why she thought so.
She stared at him for several long seconds before she said, “I can’t really explain it, but when that guy passed by me, I thought I heard him mutter something about grabbing someone and he was headed in your direction. I started running to you before I thought too much about it.”
Jake grinned. “Well, thanks for saving me.”
“I might have been completely wrong, but—”
“Actually,” he said, interrupting her. “I thought I heard him mutter the same thing. Hard to tell, since he was wearing that blue bandana, which was odd, right?”
“Yes, definitely odd. But better safe than sorry.”
“Right,” Jake nodded and slung his arm around Beryl’s shoulders as they continued down the street. When they talked to the police later, he’d mention that the guy in the station wagon had a red bandana covering his face. Then there was the fact they drove off together, leaving the scene of an accident, as if they’d been up to no good.
Once Jake and Beryl were safely ensconced in Dark Matter Metal & Leather, they told Frederick what happened.
Beryl said, “I’m not quite sure what they were up to, but I swore I heard one of them say he was about to get someone. I don’t know who. I’ll call the sheriff when I get back to my office and tell him we’re witnesses. They’ll probably call you.”
Frederick looked quite concerned about the whole incident. “I don’t like this at all, Jake,” he said. “Perhaps youshouldn’t travel alone until this has been resolved. Perhaps we could carpool together to work.”
Jake said, “I don’t think that’s necessary, Frederick. Don’t worry.” He looked at Beryl. “We don’t even know if the dude was talking about me.”
“We don’t know that he wasn’t,” Frederick said and looked at Beryl as if for her agreement.
“I’ll call and speak to the Skeeter Bite sheriff, Wyatt Campbell,” Beryl said. “I know him personally. He’s married to my cousin, Valene. I’ll ask him if he thinks you should take further precautions.”
“I know Sheriff Wyatt Campbell,” Jake said with a smile.
“How do you know him?” Beryl asked.
“Oh, well, last night, someone broke into my house and—”
“What?!” Frederick said. “When were you going to tell me aboutthat?”
Jake shrugged. “I didn’t want to worry you over what probably amounted to a kid’s prank. Nothing was stolen…” his words didn’t seem to be swaying his manger. “I’m sorry, Frederick. I sort of forgot about it until Beryl mentioned Wyatt’s name.”
“Nothing was stolen?” Beryl asked, her face riddled with concern. “So maybe someone was waiting for you?”
“That’s it,” Frederick said. “You should come home with me. I’ll put my kids on the sofa and you can sleep on the bottom bunk in their room.”
“No. I’m not going to do that, Frederick. If someone is after me, I will not put your family in the line of fire. No way.”
Frederick started to argue, but Jake put his hand on his friend’s forearm. “I will not risk your family for my sake, not going to happen. I’ll speak with Sheriff Campbell and see what he thinks I should do. Okay?”
“Okay. But my offer still stands.”
“Thank you, my friend.”
Frederick turned to Beryl and said, “Thank you for protecting him.”
Beryl’s cheeks turned pink. “You’re welcome. We’ll figure this out. I promise.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Is that really the time? I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll text you, Jake, and I’ll see you tomorrow tonight.”
Jake said, “Yes. Perfect. See you tomorrow tonight.”
Before the door swung completely shut from her departure, Frederick said, “Oh, my, a lunch date and now a dinner date the next day? Marvelous. The luncheon must have gone well, before the unfortunate almost-kidnapping incident.”
